Sewing machine case

ABSTRACT

A sewing machine case comprises a rectangular box-like hollow pedestal to the upper edges of which are hinged four flaps. A base and lower free arm of the sewing machine can be removably housed in said pedestal, the free arm fitting in an opening in the upper surface of the pedestal which forms, with the flat upper surface of the free arm, a small work table. In a lowered position the flaps form access slopes to this table, a cover hinged on one flap being folded thereunder to hold the flap in the plane of the table. The flaps can be folded up and fixed to the cover to close the case around the machine.

nited States atent 1 1 1 3,781,075 Fresard Dec. 25, 1973 [541 SEW1NG MACHINE CASE 992,640 5 1911 Byron 312/208 ux 1,121,422 12/1914 Tydings 312/208 [75] Inventor: Marcel Fresard, Geneva,

Switzerland FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Assigneez Mefina S A Fribourg Switzerland 627,648 4/1933 Germany 312/208 [22] Filed: Oct. 19, 1971 Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam [21] PP No: 190,625 Attorney-Emory L. Groff [57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl. 312/208, 312/244 Sewing machine case comprises a rectangular [51] Int. Cl. A471) 21/00, A47b 95/02 like hollow pedestal to tha upper edges of which are Fleld of Search h g d four flaps A base and lower free arm of the 312/25 1 sewing machine can be removably housed in said ped- I estal, the free arm fitting in an opening in the upper [56] References clued surface of the pedestal which forms, with the flat UNI D STATES PATENTS upper surface of the free arm, a small work table. In a 1,344,718 6/1920 Riddell 312/208 lowered position the flaps form access slopes to this 1,875,177 8/1932 Osann et a1 312/208 X table, a cover hinged on one flap being folded there- 2,630,362 3/1953 under to hold the flap in the plane of the table. The 2,664,333 12/1953 Ga se flaps can be folded up and fixed to the cover to close 2,958,304 11/1960 Arbib...... thee S a und them ch ,9 7,846 6/1961 Powell... 36 '0 a me,

3,625,582 12/1971 Naito 312/208 3 Claims, SDrawing Figures 5. 9 9 T a T 1 111:; J 1 y 4 k: I

PATENIED DEBZS I915 SHUT 2 SF 3 INVENTOR MAECEL FRESH/8P ATTORNEY Pmmfinumzs I975 3,781, 075

SHUT 3 UP 3 INYENTOR Q BY 4.

ATTONEY SEWING MACHINE CASE The present invention relates to cases for sewing machines of the type having a base surmounted by a free arm.

It is known to provide a sewing machine case comprising panels which can be used to form a work table extending the upper surface of the free arm of the sewing machine. In general, prior to using the machine in this way, it is necessary to remove the machine from the case, place it on a table and, then, place the case on the table by engaging a part of the case about the free arm to form the extended work table.

The object of the present invention is to enable a more rapid setting up of such a sewing machine.

According to the invention, there is provided a case for a sewing machine of the type having a base above which is disposed a free arm, said case comprising a rectangular box-like pedestal for removably housing the base and free arm of the machine, said pedestal having an upper surface located at substantially the same level as and forming a small work table with a flat upper face of the free arm when the base and free arm of the machine are housed in the pedestal, said upper surface of the pedestal having an opening with a shape corresponding to and removably fitting around the free arm, a plurality of flaps hinged along outer edges of said upper surface of the pedestal forming said work table, said flaps being pivotable between a lowered position in which they cooperate with said small work table and a raised position in which they form the walls of said case, a cover, and connecting means for the flaps and cover to enable the case to be closed about the machine when the flaps are in the raised position.

The accompanying drawings show, schematically and by way of example, an embodiment of the case according to theinvention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the case in the closed position.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 show various successive phases of the opening of the case; and

FIG. 5 is a partially cut-away perspective view showing the sewing machine removed from the'case to enable use of the free arm.

The case shown comprises a box-like hollow pedestal l to which are hinged four rectangular flaps 2, 3, 4, 5. The flap 5 hingedly carries, on its edge opposed to the pedestal l, a cover 6 which, in the closed position, is removably fixed to the flap 2 by catches 7 and 8.. The cover 6 also has a handle 9 to facilitate transport of the case.

As shown in FIG. 5, the sewing machine has a substantially rectangular base plate 10 carrying an upright column 11 provided with an upper arm 12 and a lower free arm 13. The base plate 10 of the machine is adapted to engage in the hollow pedestal ll, the free arm 13 engaging in an opening 14 in the upper face 15 of the pedestal, the contour of this opening 14 corresponding to that of the free arm 13. When the machine is fitted in the case, this upper face 15 is situated at the same level as the upper face 16 of the free arm 13 so as to form a small table or working surface extending the surface area offered by the free arm.

The pedestal l is of rectangular shape and the flaps 2 to 5 are hingedly mounted along each of the edges of the small table. When the flaps 2 and 4 are folded down as shown in FIG. 4!, they form access slopes to the small table or working surface formed by the face 15 of the pedestal l and the face 16 of the free arm 13. The height of the cover 6 is substantially equal to the height of the pedestal 1, so that by folding the cover under the flap 5, as shown in FIG. 4, the flap 5 is located in the plane of the working surface.

To enable the machine to be easily removed from the case, the vertical face 17 of the pedestal 1 to which the flap 3 is hinged is itself hinged at its lower edge to the pedestal 1 and can be brought into the folded down position shown in FIG. 5.

When the machine is engaged in the pedestal 1, there is a free inner space between the walls of the pedestal and the free arm 13. This space is advantageously employed for storage of an accessory box 18 which is shown in an open position in FIG. 3 in which, for greater clarity, the flap 2 is partially cut away. This box 18 is pivotally mounted to the pedestal l by a vertical hinge 19 for movement between an open or use position (FIG. 3) and a storage position (FIGS. 2, 4 and 5).

Of course, it would be possible to provide various modifications to the described case. In particular, the cover 6 need not be connected to the flap 5 by a hinge, but could be held by catches in the same manner as it is held to the flap 2. In this manner, the cover could be completely removed from the rest of the case. The cover could also be provided in several parts each connected to a different flap, for example the flaps 2 and 5, each of these parts being foldable so that in the work position the two flaps are located in the working plane of the machine. Alternatively, the cover could be formed by the upper arm of the sewing machine.

Of course, the accessory box 18 can be located at any appropriate place and could possibly be mounted on rails or slides. Several accessory boxes could also be provided.

I claim:

1. In a case for a sewing machine of the type having a base above which is mounted a free arm, said case comprising a rectangular box-like pedestal for removably housing the base and free arm of the machine, said pedestal having an upper surface located at substantially the same level as and forming a small work table with a flat upper face of the free arm when the base and free arm of the machine are housed in the pedestal, the upper surface of the pedestal having an opening with a shape corresponding to and removably fitting around the free arm, a plurality of flaps hinged along outer edges of the upper surface of the pedestal forming the work table, said flaps pivotable between a lowered position in which they form an extended surface of the small work table and a raised position in which they form walls of the case and enclose the front, rear and ends of the machine, a cover including at least one part hingedly connected to one of said flaps along an edge opposite that hinged to said pedestal outer edge whereby said cover is foldable over the top of the machine when said flaps are raised and foldable beneath its attached flap when said flaps are lowered, said one part of said cover having a height substantially equal to that of said pedestal upper surface to serve as a support for its attached flap when folded therebeneath and to maintain its attached flap in the plane of said pedestal upper surface, and releasable fastening means to enable the case to be secured about the machine when said flaps are in the raised position.

which said flap can be moved between the lowered and raised positions and a folded down position in which the base and free arm of the machine can be introduced into and removed from said pedestal. 

1. In a case for a sewing machine of the type having a base above which is mounted a free arm, said case comprising a rectangular box-like pedestal for removably housing the base and free arm of the machine, said pedestal having an upper surface located at substantially the same level as and forming a small work table with a flat upper face of the free arm when the base and free arm of the machine are housed in the pedestal, the upper surface of the pedestal having an opening with a shape corresponding to and removably fitting around the free arm, a plurality of flaps hinged along outer edges of the upper surface of the pedestal forming the work table, said flaps pivotable between a lowered position in which they form an extended surface of the small work table and a raised position in which they form walls of the case and enclose the front, rear and ends of the machine, a cover including at least one part hingedly connected to one of said flaps along an edge opposite that hinged to said pedestal outer edge whereby said cover is foldable over the top of the machine when said flaps are raised and foldable beneath its attached flap when said flaps are lowered, said one part of said cover having a height substantially equal to that of said pedestal upper surface to serve as a support for its attached flap when folded therebeneath and to maintain its attached flap in the plane of said pedestal upper surface, and releasable fastening means to enable the case to be secured about the machine when said flaps are in the raised position.
 2. A case according to claim 1, comprising at least one accessory box housed in the pedestal.
 3. A case according to claim 1, in which said pedestal comprises at least one wall to which is hinged one of said flaps, said wall being pivotally connected to the pedestal for movement between an upright position in which said flap can be moved between the lowered and raised positions and a folded down position in which the base and free arm of the machine can be introduced into and removed from said pedestal. 